Saint of the Month - October 2023: Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos

Bl. Francis Xavier Seelos

A Model Priest & Mystic

Memorial: October 5th

Born on January 11, 1819, Fussen (Bavaria), Germany, this Blessed was baptized Francis Xavier Seelos after St. Francis Xavier, the prolific Jesuit missionary.   His choice of name may have been providential because as a child he was remarked to his mother, “I’m going to be another St. Francis.” 

Drawn to the priesthood, Francis entered the diocesan seminary in September 1842.  There, he came across an article in a Catholic newspaper describing the plight of German immigrants in the United States and the efforts of the Redemptorists to minister to them.  Moved by what he read, the seminarian applied with the Redemptorists, was accepted, and sent to America, per his request.  Francis arrived in New York in April 1843, then went on to Baltimore, Maryland, to complete his novitiate and studies; he was ordained in December 1844.

Initially, Fr. Seelos was assigned to a parish in Pittsburgh where he had the blessing of working as an assistant to Fr. John Neumann who, like him, was a German missionary and would later be appointed a Bishop ... then canonized by the Church after his death.  Fr. Neumann proved to be a holy influence on the new priest, mentoring him through word and example on how to be an effective, Christ-like pastor to his flock.

The interior of St. Mary of the Assumption

Church where Bl. Seelos ministered, and the

location of his national shrine.

Because of his ability to speak German, English, and even French, Fr. Seelos was able to offer Mass and administer the Sacraments to a wide range of people. Consequently, many came from great distances to see him, particularly to confess their sins.  His simplicity in speech; his kindness towards all; his cheerful disposition; and his innate piety impressed many, and the priest was highly sought-after as a spiritual advisor.

It wasn't long before people came to realize that Seelos was a genuine mystic who had the gifts of discernment, foresight, and healing.  One particular story recounts how a man with crutches walked into the priest's office confidently asking to be healed.  When Fr. Seelos protested that he had no such power, the man threw his crutches out the window while replying that he wasn't leaving until he was cured (talk about faith!); he soon walked away completely healed after the priest prayed over him.

During his fruitful career as a missionary, the Redemptorists assigned Fr. Seelos to minister in at least 10 different states.  His final home was St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he was transferred to in 1866.  There, he not only served his flock but was also energetic in working to relieve the poor and sick of the city.

When an outbreak of Yellow Fever started in New Orleans in 1867, Seelos courageously attended to the spiritual and temporal needs of its afflicted citizens.  Exhausted by his efforts, he contracted the disease and succumbed to it on October 4th of the same year; it was a manner of death he mysteriously predicted the year before.

Fr. Seelos was only 48 years old when God called him to his eternal reward.  In death his corpse took on a beautiful, lifelike appearance ... and there was no rigor mortis in his limbs.  Cures were also reported through prayerful contact with his body and later at his grave.

A relic from the bones of Bl. Seelos

in this ministry's custody.

After careful investigation and the recognition of a cure worked through his intercession, the Church Beatified Fr. Francis Xavier Seelos on April 9, 2000.  His relics are venerated in the National Shrine dedicated to him in St. Mary of the Assumption Church in New Orleans.

Bl. Francis Xavier Seelos,

pray for us!